Party Goer

Wearing //

Forever 21 sheer top and camisole (old), similar

Topshop skirt

Aldo clutch (old), similar here and here

J.Crew Factory sandals

Anthropologie pearl necklace

Stella & Dot engraveable bar necklace

Gorjana bracelet

Beauty //

Benefit PosieBalm Lip Tint

Zoya nail polish in "LC" (can't find a link but I've seen it at Ulta)

I had an entirely different outfit in mind for my friend's 30th birthday party on Saturday. I really wanted to wear this Asos dress, seeing as it's elegant enough for a party yet still extremely comfortable to dance in. I wanted a timeless look because lord only knows that when we are 65 and looking through old photos of the "glory days", I don't want to think "what the heck was I wearing?"
I often dress with that scenario in mind, and I'm not sure if this is normal. Anyway, it was over 100 degrees that day and it wasn't going to cool down much at night so I decided to nix the black, elegant dress in favor of something a little more appropriate for the heat. I know you guys are probably tired of seeing this white Topshop skirt but I reach for it all the time. I love the way it swishes as I walk, and it has pockets that I can stick my hands in when I'm feeling a little nervous (which I proceeded to do all night). I threw in a little happy colored clutch for good measure and away I went! Her backyard party was perfect. The same DJ that played during my wedding reception was there. I felt very nostalgic about that, as well as realizing that my friends and I are bidding adieu to our twenties. So far, it's been my favorite night of the year :)

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Beach Day

Loving this canvas tote by the SF-based company, Amour Vert. Is that not the perfect little saying? I may be a little biased though since Paris is on my bucket list and I love being a Cali girl! I think the tote might be currently sold-out but I'll bet they'll get more in if you're interested. 

Steve Madden "Bride" sandals, old. Color Club nail polish in "Modern Pink"

Maxi dress by Loft (in petite), last worn below. 

It was so windy that we couldn't get one good single shot from this beach day. Below I'm more dressed up but that's the only difference. 

By now, you all know I'm a self-proclaimed beach bum. If I could live there, or even remotely close by, I would do so in a heartbeat. I'd even live in a shack, cuz that's about all we can afford! Unfortunately, I'm about 45 minutes away from the coastline and that often means road trips on the weekends. Even after Summer is long gone, my husband and I will bring blankets, sweaters, and usually a bottle of wine to share on the beach while the sun goes down (we have to be discreet about the wine because you aren't supposed to drink on the beach here in SoCal. Correct me if I'm wrong fellow Californians!) Any chance we get, we head for the ocean. They say that saltwater is the cure for just about any ailment, and I strongly believe that. It centers me, and allows me to feel present in my life. Most of the time I don't feel balanced, as I'm a chronic worrier and my anxiety gets the better of me. But hearing the waves and seeing how infinite the ocean is reminds me that I am here. And that I shouldn't take any minute of my life for granted.

By the way, Happy Friday! I'll make it to the coast at some point this weekend :)

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Casual Sparkle

Wearing // 

Zara skirt (old) but pretty options here and here

Express sleeveless portofino

J.Crew Factory sandals

Kate Spade bag, in red for Fall!

Anthropologie necklace (obsessed)

Stella & Dot engraveables necklace

Forever 21 pearl stud earrings

Beauty //

YSL "Le Orange" lipstick

Chanel "Graphite" nails

Urban Decay Naked Palette

When I think about sequins, sparkle, and gold, I tend like many of you to associate them with getting all dolled up. But why can't a gold sequined skirt just be worn casually? Like to run to the grocery store or pump gas or visit the doctor? Okay, I'm totally kidding. I would never wear this outfit to the doctor's office. A grocery run or a gas station...maybe. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I think we should break "the rules" sometimes and just wear whatever the hell we wanna wear, wherever we want to wear it. Me, well I wore this out to dinner. Hubby and I even took a walk on the wild side and ventured into the mall, despite protests that there would be too many high school kids roaming about on a Friday night. We walked anyways, and although I probably resembled a disco ball to some, I felt just as comfortable in this casual-ish outfit than I would have felt in jeans and flip-flops. I just felt a bit more glamorous.

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